Viola... In English!

Not Quite There Yet...

Prandelli: "We must grow before we can enter Scudetto race."

There is much work to be done before Fiorentina can become a great team and coach Cesare Prandelli understands this and spoke of it to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"We'll see.  We are still unbeaten and that is an important sign.  Still we cannot lower our guard and we still need to continue to cultivate a winning attitude.  Growth, for us, means erasing the distance (technically speaking) between us and the sides that already battle for the Scudetto."

My take -- I am probably a victim of over-valuing our own players as I watch them so much and, generally, like them so much.  Having said that, I look at Juventus' side and I think that we are every bit as good as them, right down the line, and probably even better.  A win and three draws at home (plus the draw with Groningen) is really unacceptable for the amount of talent we have.  He's right, we need a winning attitude.  This drawing attitude drives me crazy sometimes.

Moral Victory?

Ranieri: Iaquinta's goal should not have counted

"Trezeguet's position on Iaquinta's goal?  It could be considered offsides."  Claudio Ranieri analyzed Juventus' goal admitting that the French attacker was offsides.

Mazzola Crowns Viola

Mazzola to FN: Inter & Fiorentina Scudetto faves.  Viola's time is now.

Sandro Mazzola is sure.  "Fiorentina impressed me against Roma.  Coach Prandelli does a good job of trying to hide it but he can't fool me.  The young players have matured, Mutu is a champion, and to play from behind against Roma; especially as they did in the first half; is not easy.  I put Inter and Fiorentina in the group with Juventus, Roma and even Milan, who have been unlucky, to battle for the Scudetto.  Each of the five is as much a favorite as the other four and it's a sin that one of these sides will have to miss out on the Champion's League."

On Vieri and Pazzini

"Vieri's will to play has impressed me.  I believe that, over the long run, his presence will enable Pazzini to grow and improve without so much pressure on him.  Giampaolo only lacks that killer instinct in front of the net and I am sure that he will eventually find a home on the national team."

Are Fiorentina and Inter like David and Goliath?

"11 players take the field at a time and Fiorentina is championship caliber from the keeper on down the line.  So tell me, which is Goliath?  If you are comparing the entire rosters then that is a different topic.  Anyone who believes you need 26 great players to win a championship is mistaken.  Fiorentina has 16-17 players of the highest level.  I believe that that is enough for the Scudetto, Coppa Italia and Europe.  I remain an Inter Milan fan but Fiorentina worries me.  Prandelli has done a great job of deflecting pressure from the team by saying that his side is thinking about the 2010/2011 season.  The future of soccer is Viola or, better said, the present..."

Tough To Watch

My ticket on the Prandelli bandwagon is not quite booked yet.  I thought it was after the match at the San Siro but I failed to take into account the sole reason that we looked pretty good in that one.  AC Milan scored first.  The way that our side went into its shell following the early opener away to Catania really made me cringe.  My wife was sure that we had been steamrolled based on my cursing.

Judging by how the side reacted to that initial goal you would have thought that we were playing against 1974 Brasil...  Clinging, white-knuckled, to the edge of a cliff and fighting with all of our might to simply hang on and pray for the mercy of the referee's whistle.  Anyone who watched it knows that Prandelli came into the match hoping for one lone goal and, once that was achieved, switched into survival mode.

No offense to Catania as they looked the better side, but we are superior to them all over the field.  Martinez looked good but, really, who from Catania could play for us?  Lorenzo Stovini, their highest earner, begged to play for the Viola, his home town club.  Sorry Lorenzo.  Not deemed good enough.  Either Prandelli sometimes severely overrates our opponents or I severely overrate us.  The truth, as usual, is probably somewhere in the middle.  This timid approach that saw us win only 26 points in away games (as opposed to 47 in home matches) last season is no anomaly.  We go away from home aiming to score a single goal and to surrender at most a single goal.  Only Frey saved the three points.

I'm not saying that I am not proud of the home field advantage that Fortress Franchi provides us.  I am.  But a 21-point difference?  That's 7 wins.  If we would have beaten Ascoli and Siena away from home last season we would have finished 3rd!  Even with the points penalty.  Doesn't that little bit of trivia get under your skin just a little bit?  It does me.  The difference in points between a win and a draw is twice as much as the difference in points between a draw and a loss...  So why not just go for it?

It's funny.  I was happy when the 4th official indicated 5 minutes of injury time.  I was happy because I knew that after Catania scored their inevitable equalizer we would most likely have a little time to claw one back.  I was happy, and that's pretty sad.

Comments From Prandelli & Vieri

Prandelli: Roma toughest match of the year. Vieri on Mutu.

Following the victory away to Catania, Domenica Sportiva caught up with Cesare Prandelli and Bobo Vieri. 

"Roma will give us our most difficult match of the season.  They really do play great soccer," said Prandelli.

Vieri spoke of Totti's goal scoring and the bust-up between him (Vieri) and Mutu.  "These are things that happen," speaking of his gesture to Mutu.  "Has Mutu asked my forgiveness?  No, I am the one who should be apologizing to him as he should have had two assists that I wasted.  Totti?  He always scores.  We'll see what happens Wednesday.  We're second in the standings and that is truly beautiful."

My take -- Mutu has said that there is no problem between he and Vieri.  They have known each other a long time, they have a good relationship, and they are both very intense.

Disheartening Dutch Draw

When I got home from work Thursday night I started to write my thoughts on the match and it all came out way too negative so I thought better of it and thought I would take a day off.  Anyway, yeah, I'm disappointed a bit.

I know that a 1-1 away draw gives us a great chance when we come back to the Franchi.  I know that these Dutch sides are pretty good.  In truth, I don't even care very much about the UEFA Cup.  I do, however, care about the long term success of Fiorentina.  I do care about morale problems and getting all of the players on our very large squad enough playing time to avoid Bojinov-esque cancerous situations.

And even though the UEFA Cup isn't that important to me, or Italians in general, it is important to the club.  It's important financially and it's important to the club's co-efficient for the later Champion's League runs that are certainly important, and lucrative, to the club.

Even though I don't consider the UEFA Cup to be all that prestigious compared to the Champion's League and, especially, the Scudetto; I do think it would be nice to use it as an opportunity to showcase the club to the world.  Our Bati/Rui/Toldo glory days were long ago and I would like the Viola to re-gain its rightful place in the front of the pundits' minds.  Why do we carry 4 first-team forwards, with Cacia (at least) on his way in January, if we will only ever play two?  Why do we carry 3 first-team goalkeepers if we will only ever (and I do mean ever) play 1?

Francesco Toldo sometimes plays for Inter Milan.  Cristian Brocchi sometimes starts in Gattuso's place.  Why can't Fiorentina have some sort of squad rotation system that functions regardless of injury and disciplinary concerns?  Why was a guy like Liverani starting this match with Kuzmanovic on the bench.  Why would we bring in Pazzini rather than Osvaldo as Vieri's sub?  Why not start Osvaldo and let Vieri be his sub?

Yeah, I know that Pazzini made a nice assist and that is great.  So what, though?  If we're going to crash out in the first round of the UEFA Cup I want to do it with Avramov, Mazuch, Balzaretti, Potenza, Kuzmanovic, Hable, Diakhite, Osvaldo and Lupoli...  Not with Liverani and Kroldrup.

Now my hopes are all on the Coppa Italia.

Our daughters are cheerleading today so the articles will re-commence this evening, my time.

Second To Only Inter

Pecci to FV: Viola only inferior to Inter

He doesn't like to talk about soccer so much anymore.  The unforgettable Viola midfielder from the early 80's, Eraldo  Pecci, still opened up a bit to FirenzeViola.it.

He was asked about comparisons between Riccardo Montolivo and legendary Viola player Giancarlo Antognoni.  "I have always rated Montolivo highly but I do not like comparisons between players of different eras.  I can look ahead and say, without reservation, that Montolivo is the next Pirlo of Italian soccer, however."

Then Pecci was asked how far this midfield can take Fiorentina.  "Just watch.  Each year Fiorentina makes small improvements but wait and see.  At this moment Inter is the only better team in Italia.  The Viola are on even terms with the other three."

My take -- Many thanks to Tahoma for (a) having this old footage cataloged and (b) letting me use it....  Just so that everyone can see our old regista.

Prandelli Makes Great Attackers

Call him the Bomber-Maker

He could be called the Bomber-Maker.  Who are we talking about?  Cesare Prandelli, of course.  Here is why; each of these attackers trained by the current Viola coach for at least one entire season, has set his own personal record for goals scored in that championship.

• The first is Fabrizio Cammarata at Hellas Verona, where Prandelli landed a job in 1998/1999 after being sacked by Lecce the season before.  The 23-year-old Juve product (Cammarata) scored 15 goals in 33 matches; his personal record then and now.  Hellas won promotion to Serie A and in the 1999/2000 season, still coached by Prandelli, he scored 9 goals in 28 appearances.  That mark set his own personal Serie A record and he never exceeded that mark.
• In the 2000/2001 season Prandelli was back in Serie B, this time with Venezia.  He had Filippo Maniero who set his own personal Serie B mark; the colossus from Padova scored 15 goals in 28 matches.  Later in his career Maniero did score 18 goals in a season but that was in Serie A.  For Serie B his 15 goals with Prandelli remains his high mark.
• Prandelli's Parma adventure began in 2002 and there he had Adrian Mutu.  The Romanian scored 18 goals in 31 appearances setting his yet-to-be-broken personal record. 
• That same season Adriano scored 15 goals for Prandelli; an astounding figure considering he was only 20-years-old.  The Brasilian did later surpass that mark with 18 goals in the 2004/2005 season with Inter.
• The 2002/2003 season it was Alberto Gilardino's turn.  The player exploded to score 23 goals in 34 matches.  The next season he was able to equal that mark without Prandelli guiding him.
• In 2005 Prandelli arrived in Firenze and the tradition was soon re-born.  Luca Toni scored 31 goals in 38 matches, a record even for him.  In the 2006/2007 season that number dropped but Prandelli's tradition continued.
• Reginaldo scored 6 goals in 2006/2007 setting his own personal record.
• Pazzini, too, set his own personal Serie A record last season.  2006/2007 saw him score 7 goals in 24 matches (a goal for every 155 minutes played).

This season it will be Pazzini's turn again; with the hope that the tradition of the Orzinuovi trainer (Prandelli) will continue.  Cesare Prandelli; he could be called the Bomber-Maker.

The Coming Post-Toni Scoring Boom

Or why we will eclipse last season's scoring mark

So, Fiorentina has lost its iconic leading scorer...  The most prolific scorer that Serie A has seen in decades...  The man that our entire offense, hell, our entire game plan was designed around...  All of the above is fact but does this mean that Fiorentina's offense will be dead in the water this season?  The common answer out there is, of course, a resounding "Absolutely!"  Not so fast. 

Not only will the generally-accepted notion of a Viola scoring crisis not materialize but I theorize that our offense will be more explosive this season than last.  Much more explosive, in fact.  Here are the reasons why.

Toni Lack = More Balanced Attack

Simply put, losing Toni means that we will be much less predictable than we have been in the past.  We have plenty of weapons in our arsenal and now they will not be hamstrung by solely attempting to loft the ball into our huge target man and hoping that he can convert.  A renaissance of attacking creativity will be the theme of this season as the remaining players, and even Prandelli, lose their crutch and re-learn to walk.  We have not replaced Toni, we never could.  But so what?  Not having him around will not make our offense less effective.  It will only make our offense different.

One often overlooked negative of relying so heavily on Toni relates to his image around the league.  He was so effective at using his body that it was really held against him.  It eventually reached the point where opposing defenders knew that they could counter his superior physical gifts with dirty (dirtier than normal, even) tactics and, frankly, know that there was very little chance that Toni would be awarded a penalty.  No one can convince me that Luca Toni was not fouled more than the entire Cagliari team last season, even in limited playing time.  Look at the statistics, though, and they paint an entirely different picture.  The referees apparently felt that Toni's physical attributes were advantage enough and took it upon themselves to even the playing field.  Subconsciously, or otherwise...

Prandelli & DMs -- Less is more

Let me preface this part by saying that the defensive midfielder (I'm the same way with catchers in baseball, always have been) is my personal favorite position.  I just identify with the gritty little pests whose sole purpose is to lay waste to the best laid plans of the opposition.  So, yes, I am somewhat alarmed that we only have Pazienza and Donadel (and maybe Gobbi, I guess) as out-and-out defensive midfielders.  I know, I know.  Montolivo will now be a complete midfielder and ball-winning will be a major part of his duties.  Yeah, right.  Look at him.  I'm just not buying it. 

Back to the point...  Lack of defensive midfielders will mean that we will surrender a few more goals this season.  For this discussion, though, it means that our days of fielding two defensive midfielders against even the weaker sides are numbered.  Pazienza and Donadel will pick up lots of knocks and lots of cards; it is simply the nature of their role; and will just not be simultaneously available (in disciplinary terms) and in top physical condition very often.  Even when they are, Prandelli will be keen to hold one back for use as a tactical substitution.  So, what does this mean?  Only one of Pazienza and Donadel (though I actually consider Marco to be pretty creative, relatively speaking) will be on the field at a time, generally.  And this, of course, means that we will have one more creative player on the field which leads me to my next point.

Creativity = Goals

Compared to our squads of the last two seasons (which were pretty successful; 4th and 3rd sans penalties) we are really loaded with creative, attack-minded talent.  We have wingers now, in Santana and Semioli.  We have Anthony Vanden Borre, a right back who can actually run with the ball, and pass, and cross (admittedly, I think Ujfalusi is an excellent crosser) and even score.  Liverani stayed on with the club so four of our five central midfielders (Pazienza is the fifth, obviously) are creative types.  Montolivo will look to score more and a by-product of that should be that he will have more lanes open for that final, telling pass.  I hear nothing but great things about Kuzmanovic.  Is he the next Ibra or the next Pirlo?  I'll take either. 

Even the arrival of Balzaretti makes us more creative as, on the odd night when Pasqual (or even Ujfalusi) cannot go, we will have a quality replacement and will not be forced to load up the midfield with defensive help for someone like Potenza.

So don't listen to the naysayers.  The rumors of our offense's demise have been greatly exaggerated.      

Do You Speak Socceranto?

Last week I was trying to think of yet another way to say some soccer term without sounding too repetitive when I came across a pretty cool little reference.  Since I consider it very relevant to what this site is about and to world soccer fans in general I thought I'd pimp it here.  It is called Socceranto: Birth of a Language and it is available free of charge as an eBook download (find it by clicking on the book's title).  It is an attempt to standardize the terms used by world soccer fans and is pretty funny.  One of the authors' suggestions for a standardized definition is something that I'm sure most of us would agree with...

Nakata n. an overrated player